A new proposal from the Michigan Parks and Recreation Division would prevent swimming at state beaches on “Red Flag” days, or essentially, the only days with rideable surf out on the Lakes.
Surfing in Michigan is hard.
A lot harder than renting a wetsuit and foamie on the boardwalk in Southern California.
A requisite perfect combination of an endless array of variables to do anything resembling sliding.
And more often than not you’re on the wrong side of the lake.
But the Great Lakes can produce magical, albeit fleeting, moments. Chest-high wedges with twenty-knot winds. Offshore runners. Facial hair freezing to your face.
Those moments may become even more fleeting.
A new proposal from the Michigan Parks and Recreation Division would prevent swimming at state beaches on “Red Flag” days, or essentially, the only days with rideable surf out on the Lakes.
The proposal would prevent “individuals from exiting a state managed beach area when entry is prohibited.”
The punishment would likely carry a fine of $500.
Per the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, there were 108 drownings on the Great Lakes last year.
According to Ron Olson, Chief of Parks and Recreation for the Department of Natural Resources, “We think it’s a good tool to have for us to draw a hard line to reduce the potential hazard. When it gets to red we know that the waves are going to be three-to-four-plus in height and the winds are blowing at a certain amount which means it becomes more treacherous.”
Surfers are particularly concerned about the proposal.
Ryan Gerard, a local surf shop owner in Michigan, said “This ban would effectively erase the opportunity [to surf] for all . . . people, including me.”
Coastal access is tricky in Michigan. Most of the coastline is privately owned, only thirty percent is public according to a report published by Coastal Management.
Other groups have similarly expressed concern about the proposal.
The Michigan United Conservation Clubs fear the proposal could “lead to a slippery slope.” They also point out that many of the drownings would not have been prevented by the policy; most were boating accidents and instances when individuals were swept off piers and beaches.
It’s also important to note that most of the year the Lakes are too cold to swim in, let alone wade, without a (thick) wetsuit.
While well intended, the proposal is the product of overzealous bureaucrats who fundamentally do not understand how to address the issue.
Like using an axe to open an envelope.
Lawyers and politicians are slowly killing our personal freedoms. When will it stop? I am sure Governor Gretchen loves this law as she likes being in control. What happened to the Democrat Party of old? Nowadays they are just a bunch of control freaks who talk out of both sides of their mouth. And don’t get me started with Religious Right Republicans. They suck just as much.
Not a Governor directive; completely under Dep’t of Natural Resources.
Who gave them the authority to pass laws? Not their job, it’s to do the job that giverent have them. And if their government gave them this authority, they need removed.
Name me a personal freedom you are denied.
Where have all the regulars gone? Doesn’t feel the same without Wiggs making some sexual reference and Chazz demeaning my writing in some way.
There ya go, keep voting in those demokkkrats
108 drownings per year? Of course you should ban surfing. And swimming. And wading. And sitting on the beach. One death is one too many. And be sure to wear your mask.
In the long run its not about protecting you from yourself. It’s about working toward reducing their work load so they can sit in their station house getting overpaid and retire at 40 at 100% of wages with increases on your tax payer dime all the while not having to earn it while you work your keester off until you drop dead at 70 on the job to fund it all.
Just another example of government overreach. How about a little bit of personal responsibility? Drownings are an exceptionally sad experience. However let’s not punish those who are VERY responsible. Please look deep into the actual reports. They were NOT surfers. In fact, across the country you will find that surfers save “would be “drowning victims far more often than become victims themselves. Surfers understand rips,winds and wave generation. It boils down to education not bans
I grew up on lake michigan, my dad and uncle taught me about undertows, rip currents and how to handle when caught in one. First of all if you are not a competent swimmer you have no business in these lakes under any conditions other than flat. But when caught in a rip current first priority is to not panic. Then if un able to stand through it , grab a breath and allow it to pull you out it will take you 15 to 30 yards max. Then as soon as your able swim sideways and body surf the waves in. Yes you will need to be a capable swimmer. I have been caught in at least 5 strong rips and survived them all. Its all about staying relaxed and being prepared. I would venture to say that 90% of the drownings are of those who had no business being in the lake to begin with.
That’s what you get when you allow the government into your lives.
Charming.
Great troll article, ever thought of applying for a job at fox news… Muh FREEDOMS!!!!
If I was a lake surfer I’d be stoked, will keep the VALs away but the likelyhood of being fined for surfing will be infinitesimal.
Oh you grossly misread me my friend
They’d actually enforce a surfing ban? Sounds like one of those laws, like jaywalking, only ever prosecuted if you piss off a cop or cause an accident.
Sorry if I incorrectly tarred you with the Fox brush, maybe I’ve been lurking here too often and am a bit too easily triggered.
Fox keeps it real as does Hobbo
Keeping it real = being a cunt.
That’s not very nice Bobby.
Im guessing your a Guardian man.
Reading that guff would make anyone upset.
Political ideology aside, name one person that has ever uttered the words “I’m keeping it real” that isn’t a cunt.
Snoop dogg
Yeah through summer for sure. There aren’t many options for coastal access so everyone kinda gets funneled to a select few beaches.
The proposal is very well intentioned, it’s just not the solution. A much bigger issue is people walking out onto piers and turning their backs when there’s swell in the water.
And all good re: Fox, though I don’t think I’ll be getting hired there anytime soon.
You think screwing with people’s freedoms is a joke? Ahhh, the tolerant left. Democrat party is now closer to Uncle Joe Stalin than JFK.
You used a six-syllable word on BeachGrit.com and that is three syllables over what they allow.
Edit, please?
The editors don’t want their readers choking on those long words.
What a freaking nanny state! I used to fish and sail on Lake Erie. A lake storm could pop up without warning and yes people do drown from boating accidents, ice fishing, driving snowmobiles and ice buggys on unsafe ice. Is Michigan going to ban these activities also?
“Friend?” Josh. Uh huh.
Surfing is not a crime
The rangers will love the extra power they’ll be wielding.
The chick who runs Michigan never followed her own Covid rules so why should anyone listen to anything she says?
Let the Lake surfers surf! My God…I grew up in Minnesota land-locked and never knew surfing Superior was an option. I have the Santa Monica Bay now – but really I would take anything I can get. People surfing should get special permits if they enact that B.S. Ridiculous.
Used to go to White Fish Lake every summer to spend two weeks at my grandparents house fishing. The locals there thought I was some kind of alien from Mars with my knee length Paisley Gotcha shorts and Hot Tuna shirts in the eighties.
Interesting things, can’t but alcohol on Sunday, a gas station up there had a bear in a cage in the parking lot and you could buy bottle of coke and feed it to the bear through the bars. A drive in church just like a drive in movie theater in Cross Lake.
I’ve never been to White Fish – but that sounds about right. Minnesota is a strange place. I’ll always love it but just can’t be in a same state relationship with it.
I would wager that none of the rescues were of surfers and all in warm weather…last week in NJ when Elsa provided chest high surf. overzealous teenage lifeguards tried to tell surfers they had to get out of the 72 degree water. Where is all the interest in surfer safety in February when waves are overhead and water around 40…throw the lawmakers in the lake…in winter
👍
I’m surprised our current govt hasn’t outlawed surfing in NZ.
Imagine all the shit waves that the grumpy lake front owners are lording over.
Dying isn’t cool man,
The right to die, well that’s different.
That’s progressive!!
What have you got against opening envelopes with axes?
Don’t kink-shame, dammit Cedar.
You must learn! There is more than one point of view in the world and a rainbow of needs / ways of being.
You are going to get cancelled for your bigotry.
Make Opening Letters With Axes Great Again! (MOLWAGA)
Cedar Offends Violent Fiends’ Envelope Fun Expression (COVFEFE)